The first Annual Champaign Community Coalition Kickoff was held on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at Hawthorn Suites, 101 Trade Center Drive, Champaign, Illinois.
The mission of the Champaign Community Coalition “Walk As One: A Community Moving Forward Together” is to lead the process of analyzing and identifying the needs and strengths of the community at large and facilitating collaboration with an array of organizations to provide interventions to youth and families. The Coalition is made up of 29 organizations and over 40 individuals.
Champaign Mayor Don Gerard opened with the welcome and City Manager Steve Carter gave a historical perspective of the Coalition. Members of the Champaign Community Coalition Executive Committee and Goal Team Leaders Joan Walls, Joe Gallo, Tracy Parsons and Orlando Thomas presented the 2012 Successes of each Goal Team. The 2013 Priorities were presented by Darlene Kloeppel (also a member of the Executive Committee).